Israel Steps Up Talks With Saudi Arabia On Developing Closer Military And Intelligence Ties To Confront Iran

Bloomberg: Israel Steps up Talks With Saudi Arabia Over Ties to Combat Iran 

Israel’s new government has stepped up US-backed talks with Saudi Arabia on developing closer military and intelligence ties in light of growing concerns about Iran, according to several people familiar with the discussions. 

Officials from the two countries held exploratory meetings ahead of the recent US-Gulf Cooperation Council Working Group gathering on defense and security in Riyadh, six people said, asking not to be identified as the talks are private. 

Further engagement is expected to take place in Prague to coincide with the Munich Security Conference this weekend, three of the people said. “We think that other regions integrating and beginning to sit at the same table with Israel is in the interest of stability and security in the region,” US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, Dana Stroul, said in Riyadh on Monday.  

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Update #1: Israel said to boost its efforts for closer ties with Saudi Arabia to face down Iran (Times of Israel) 

Update #2: Israel stepping up talks with Saudi Arabia over ties to combat Iran - report (i24 News).  

Update #3: Israel, Saudi Arabia Hold Talks on Increasing Military Ties (Antiwar.com)  

WNU Editor: The last thing the world needs right now is a major war in the Middle East.

Israeli PM-Designate Netanyahu Says US Needs To Reaffirm Support For Allies, Including Saudi Arabia

File: In this photo released by the Saudi Royal Palace, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, welcomes US President Joe Biden to Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 15, 2022. (Bandar Aljaloud/Saudi Royal Palace via AP, File)  

Al Arabiya: Netanyahu: US needs to reaffirm support for allies, including Saudi Arabia 

The Israeli PM-designate said that part of the Democratic Party had moved “sharply” to the left, “in some cases, to a radical position and often against the wishes of a broad constituency in the public.” 

Incoming Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that he wants US President Joe Biden to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to its “traditional allies” in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. 

“And I view that alliance with the United States as particularly important,” Netanyahu told Al Arabiya English in an interview. 

Consecutive US administrations have voiced their “ironclad” commitment to the security of Israel, but cracks have appeared in recent years as divisions over Iran have led to increased US criticism of Israeli policies towards Palestinians.  

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Update #1: Israel's Netanyahu urges US to reaffirm commitment to Saudi Arabia - Al Arabiya (Reuters)  

Update #2: Israel's Netanyahu Urges Biden to 'Reaffirm' US-Saudi Ties (Bloomberg)  

WNU Editor: I had to do a double-take when I first saw this story. An Israeli leader warning the U.S. to reaffirm its commitment to Saudi Arabia. But the Democrats are not listening .... White House clashes with Senate Democrats over Saudi weapons bill (Washington Post).

Will A Biden Administration Listen To Israeli-Saudi Concerns On Iran?

FILE PHOTO: A combination picture shows Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Osaka, Japan June 29, 2019 and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem February 9, 2020. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS 

  Reuters: Analysis: Covert Israeli-Saudi meeting sends Biden a strong message on Iran

RIYADH/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A historic meeting between Israel’s prime minister and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince has sent a strong signal to allies and enemies alike that the two countries remain deeply committed to containing their common foe Iran. 

Last Sunday’s covert meeting in the Saudi city of Neom, confirmed by Israeli officials but publicly denied by Riyadh, conveyed a coordinated message to U.S. President-elect Joe Biden that Washington’s main allies in the region are closing ranks. 

It was the first publicly confirmed visit to Saudi Arabia by an Israeli leader and a meeting that was unthinkable until recently as the two countries do not have formal diplomatic relations. 

But it underlines the depth of the two countries’ concerns about Iran, and shows how opposition to Tehran is bringing about a strategic realignment of countries in the Middle East. 

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WNU Editor: The same people who helped to drive the Iran nuclear deal are the same people who will drive it now. They did not listen to Israel and Saudi Arabia then, and I do not expect them to listen to them now.

Netanyahu Made Secret Trip To Saudi Arabia, Met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman And US Secretary Of State Pompeo

 

 

  Daily Mail: Did Benjamin Netanyahu have a secret meeting with Saudi crown prince? Israel reports say PM met Mohammed bin Salman for landmark talks - but Riyadh deny the claim 

 * Israeli PM and spy chief met crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, reports say 

 * Saudi Arabia denied the reports today but Netanyahu was more circumspect 

 * It would be the first known encounter between senior Israeli and Saudi officials 

 * Israel has already normalised relations with Bahrain and the UAE during 2020 

Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Saudi Arabia for a secret meeting with its crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israeli media said today, but the Gulf kingdom denied the claims. 

Netanyahu and his spy chief Yossi Cohen met the prince on Sunday after flying to the city of Neom where Prince Mohammed had been holding talks with US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, reports claimed. 

If confirmed, it would mark the first known encounter between senior Israeli and Saudi officials and a major step towards the Jewish state's acceptance in the Arab world. 

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WNU Editor: The Saudi foreign minister is denying such a meeting taking place .... Saudi Foreign Minister denies Crown Prince meeting with Israelis (Gulf News). 

 More News On Netanyahu Making A Secret Trip To Saudi Arabia To Meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman And US Secretary Of State Pompeo 

Netanyahu met Saudi crown prince, Pompeo in Saudi Arabia - Israeli minister -- Reuters 

Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu held secret talks in Saudi Arabia -- DW 

Netanyahu made secret trip to Saudi Arabia, met MBS and Pompeo -- France 24 

Netanyahu held secret meeting with Saudi Crown Prince, Israeli minister confirms -- CNN 

Netanyahu Meets With Saudi Crown Prince -- New York Times 

Benjamin Netanyahu: Mystery over 'secret meeting' between Israeli PM and Saudi Arabia crown prince -- SKY News 

Secretary of State Pompeo takes part in reported Netanyahu-MBS meeting -- NYPost 

Israel PM Netanyahu secretly met with Saudi crown prince: reports -- FOX News 

Netanyahu makes secret Saudi Arabia trip for talks with bin Salman -- YNet News 

Netanyahu's visit to Saudi Arabia 'dangerous,' Hamas warns -- Israel Hayom 

Netanyahu, Mossad Head Secretly Visit Saudi Arabia to Meet Crown Prince, Pompeo, Israeli Media Claim -- Sputnik 

Israel's Netanyahu made secret trip to Saudi Arabia to meet crown prince, say reports -- Middle East Eye